Getting involved

The Policy Development Committee draws members from right across the party. The Committee itself does not directly develop policies: it creates and coordinates working groups on a variety of topics. From time to time a working group may defer to the Committee for direction or other assistance, and the Committee is ultimately responsible for presenting completed policies for consideration by Party Members.

The Committee regularly announces the creation of working groups, and all members are encouraged to get involved.

Contacting the Policy Development Committee

If you would like to have your say on policy development we want to hear from you! Please send an email to: [email protected]

Also if you want to contact any of the PDC working groups and you can't find an email address elsewhere then please feel free to send email to the address above and the appropriate person will reply to you.

What Is Happening Right Now

Members from all over the country joined forces to help us complete our election platform, but there's more to come.

Work groups are created to develop policies. We strongly encourage you to get in touch with the chair of any group if you have an informed opinion on any of these matters or would like to help in any way. If you are unsure how to get in touch with someone then please feel free to just send an email to [email protected] describing what you need as all committee members receive the emails sent to that address.

Policy working groups

Working group

Chair

Next meeting

Brief

Deadline

Status

Cultural Policy Working Group

Sunny Kalsi

08-Jan-2015

To stimulate cultural growth and promote the sharing of culture through proactive rather than reactive measures. Specifically also includes Library Development Policy and ABC Funding policy

Nil

In Progress.

Distributed Digital Currencies and Economies Working Group

Andrew Downing

12-Jan-2015

To determine how governments should appropriately position themselves in order to handle a major market disruption caused by the use of cryptocurrencies.

Nil

In Progress. Initial drafting in progress

Universal Healthcare Working Group

Bill McLean

TBA

Focus on the development of a universal healthcare policy, with specific consideration of dental and ambulance cover

Nil

In Progress. Draft Written.

Universal Education Working Group

Mark Gibbons

TBA

Focus on the development of a universal education policy, with specific consideration of the cost of education and accessibility

Nil

Yet to begin

Universal Childcare Working Group

TBA

TBA

Focus on the development of a universal childcare policy

Nil

Yet to begin

Sexual Offences Working Group

TBA

TBA

Focus on the development of a revenge pornography policy that considers the introduction of a concept of "permanent publication", a potential sentencing requiring placement on a list for sexual predators, and the ability for police to act upon threatening calls

Nil

Yet to begin

Startups Working Group

Andrew Downing

TBA

Focus on investigating policies to advance the opportunities for small to medium startup businesses in Australia to enhance the digital economy

Nil

Yet to Begin

Agriculture and Food Working Group

Laura Killian

TBA

Develop a policy addressing key issues of the Australian agriculture and food system.

Nil

Under discussion

Constitutional Reform Working Group

Mozart Olbrycht-Palmer

Nil

Examine potential reforms of the Australian Constitution, including recognition of Indigenous Australians as recommended by the Expert Panel

Congress, July 2014

Proposed

Energy Working Group

Mark Gibbons

Nil

Work on updating the energy policy

Congress, July 2014

Proposed

Privacy Tort Working Group

David Crafti

Nil

Focus on the development of a policy regarding a tort for privacy violations

Congress, July 2014

Proposed

Senate Elections Working Group

Brendan Molloy

Nil

Determine a position statement on preferencing for Senate elections

3 April, 2014

Completed

Meetings

PDC Meetings are currently held every second Wednesday night at 8:30 pm (Sydney time) via IRC at irc.pirateirc.net in the #ppau-pdc channel. Feel free to drop into the channel at any time to chat about policy development. During meetings the channel may be moderated to keep the meeting running smoothly but everyone is welcome to observe. Consult the calendar for upcoming meetings, and if you need assistance please contact [email protected].

Policy Development Process

Policy Working Groups

When the PDC decides that a certain policy needs to be written, a working group is formed by a motion at a PDC Meeting. The working group will have a chair person who is a member of the PDC and who is responsible for organising the working group and bringing the results back to the PDC. Participation in a working group is open to all members and we really need your help so please don't be shy! If you'd like to have input on a policy then by all means contact the chair of the working group. If in doubt you can always send email to [email protected] and we will make sure the right person contacts you.